Light in the Darkness

The theme of 2020 has been my anxiety. With my closest friends leaving for Wisconsin, COVID arriving from China, panic attacks around every corner, and riots starting up all over the globe, I’ve certainly been given enough to worry about.

But 2021 is just around the bend. Some people say it will be better; others moan that it will be worse.

Who do I side with?

I think it’s going to be better because I’m going to do something I didn’t do so well.

I’m going to put my trust in Jesus. That’s why 2021 is going to be better than this year.

The Disappointments

“How can I be putting my faith in Jesus after everything that has happened in 2020?” you might be asking.

And you would be right.

This year has been full of rotten things.

I’m sure you have your own list of all the terrible stuff occurring in the unforgettable year of 2020.

Here’s mine:

1) My closest friends moved all the way up to Wisconsin.

2) COVID

3) Having to leave my family’s church.

4) Riots

5) MANY other personal and family problems

No doubt, your list is like mine. It might be longer, or it might be shorter…

But wait, aren’t I going about it all wrong? If I’m putting my trust in Jesus, shouldn’t I be looking away from the disappointments?

The Blessings

Yes! I know you might have had a horrible year this 2020. I did, and so did most of the world, but there are so many things I can be grateful for.

Once we take our eyes off the disappointments and focus our gaze on the many things God has given us, we can begin to trust in Him fully.

I found once I did this, 2020 didn’t look so bleak after all, and 2021 appeared bright.

I also found my list of blessings was longer than my list of disappointments.

1) I got to see my friends twice last year – and we might be seeing them very soon.

2) I finished writing my first book!

3) My family has joined another church – and the church considers us a part of their family.

4)I was able to begin a study in forensics – something I have wanted to do since I was twelve.

5) I have grown closer to God

6) I made a new friend.

7) My friend wrote a book for me.

And honestly, I could keep going on and on and on. Really, you should write a list of every blessing you can think of in 2020. Many of you will hopefully find that you can’t stop writing.

Confusing the Devil

Okay, but you still might be thinking about all the disappointments. There might be some of you who find that your disappointments outweigh the blessings.

And I get it.

Writing out a list of blessings won’t work for everyone.

But allow me to let you in on a little secret: The reason you feel awful after 2020 is because of the devil.

Satan will do everything in his power to tear you down.

I’m going to get a little personal. This year, I struggled heavily with panic attacks. Everything that happened on top of worrying about my future and college took a toll on me.

In fact, I ended up, at four in the morning, in the ER because my worry had affected me physically.

I honestly think the devil was using the panic attacks to try and tear me down – and he almost did.

Then, I read a book assigned to me for school. I don’t remember what it’s called, but I will never forget a little note in it.

When Satan is trying to tear you down, sincerely thank God. To the devil, this is a blow to the face.

It confuses him. How can a person thank God after all the terrible things they have been through?

Fellow believer and hurting Christian, lift your eyes to heaven and thank your maker up in heaven for all the blessings he has given you.

I can’t promise that things will get better for you after this, but I know that you will realize that your faith has grown.

Job’s Example

I’m sure most of you know Job. This man had his own list of disappointments.

1) He lost most of his family.

2) He lost all his possessions.

3) He got a horrible skin condition.

4) His wife’s advice was to “curse God and die.”

5) His friends insisted he had done something wrong to deserve all this.

Despite this, what did he do?

He praised God.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

No matter how hard your year was, we must come out of it praising God.

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Now, I don’t know what’s going to happen in 2021… All I know is it’s going to start the same way 2020 ended.

But take hope! You have a God who is faithful and will see you to the very end.

Make a resolution with yourself; decide that you will put your faith in Jesus in 2021.

When you do this, you’ll find a light at the end of the tunnel. You’ll see the light in the darkness.